Schwartz question

Message

#1 Post by **quint9** » Mon Feb 01, 2010 8:37 am

Hi everyone. I have been with a removable Schwartz Expander for about a month and a half now and I'm seeing good expansion (a gap in my front teeth that once overlapped and 2mm of expansion at my first month ortho visit).
My questions is to anyone who has used a removable expander. Recently my teeth have started creeking and crunching when I put the expander back in after eating and brushing. The sound is like the sound of tearing roots when you have a tooth pulled, only not quite as bad. Is this normal?
My expander is NEVER out more than 15, maybe 20 minutes. Only long enough to eat, brush, and soak the expander in Efferdent. It sure seems like my teeth retract back a couple of millimeters in that short time. Any advice is much appreciated.

#2 Post by **felicia** » Mon Feb 01, 2010 9:41 am

Did you have SARPE?

#3 Post by **quint9** » Mon Feb 01, 2010 10:05 am

No I did not. I am going the non-surgical route and I am 40.

#4 Post by **chemicalfan** » Wed Feb 03, 2010 7:16 am

I had an upper Schwarz for about a year, total expansion of 14mm. I can't say that I noticed any alarming sounds, but it was really painful to remove and refit for a few days after each adjustment (it hurt slightly in a constant way for about the first 6 weeks, then only around adjustment time). Kinda felt like I was going to pull my teeth out when removing it - obviously I didn't, but because your mouth is so sensisitve, it makes you paranoid

You could speak to your ortho at your next adjustment, they might be able to adjust your appliance a bit to make it more comfortable

#5 Post by **drrick** » Wed Feb 03, 2010 9:05 am

Are you sure it isnt the expander itself?
Could be the sound of the acrylic sliding down the tongue side of your teeth as well as movement around the screw mechanism.

#6 Post by **quint9** » Wed Feb 03, 2010 11:12 am

I'm not totally sure its not the expander creeking but it sure feels like my teeth. I'm assuming that the sound I hear is normal considering the fact that I am trying to force bone apart or at least to expand.
I'm not in braces yet so I don't have any of those kind of adjustments but I will see my ortho in about a week for measurements of my palate so I will ask him then. I appreciate the replies and suggastions. I was hoping more people would reply with something like, "oh ya. I experienced that same thing. Don't freak out"
The only thing my ortho told me to be on the lookout for is if my teeth get loose. I worry that the tearing sound I hear is roots and is the precursor to loose teeth.

#7 Post by **quint9** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 7:34 pm

Well, I guess there aren't very many people who have the Schwartz Expander or nobody has experienced what I am experiencing. I will just go back to being a lurker until I get braced. Thanks anyway.